Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Coronavirus: Two deaths reported Monday in Acadiana as new daily cases remain flat

Acadiana parishes reported two new deaths from COVID-19 Monday and 33 new cases of the virus, continuing the region’s moderate decline in daily reported cases since April 9.

Iberia and St. Mary parishes each reported one additional death Monday, the only new fatalities in the area since Saturday, bringing the eight-parish region to 78 lives lost to the virus.

On Sunday, Acadiana saw no new deaths from COVID-19 reported for the first time since April 2.

Monday’s 33 new cases put the region at 1,292 total infections. The moderate increase in cases reflects a flattening trend in new cases reported daily across the region.

Since April 9, three-day averages of reported cases, which help offset spikes and dips in reporting, have declined from about 74 new cases a day to about 34 as of Monday.

Guidance from the White House for reopening local economies requires states maintain at least 14 days of downward trajectory in their daily reported cases, among other stipulations, before entering the first phase of reopening.

Trends across Acadiana suggest that the region has already started to accumulate days toward that goal.

Story continues below.

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory announced Monday that clothing company Hanes had donated 100,000 cloth face masks to Lafayette Parish, which Lafayette Consolidated Government will distribute to businesses in the parish operating under Guillory’s new Safe Shop guidelines for “grey area” businesses, which were announced last week.

“These masks are reusable and washable. Lafayette Consolidated Government will distributing a significant portion of these masks to the mayors of our local municipalities based on population,” Guillory said.

“Our focus is on making masks available to our Safe Shop merchants who need them for their employees. We’ll be working with LEDA on distribution to local businesses.”

Guillory also said that the Lafayette Police Department conducted 392 compliance checks at businesses in the city over the weekend and found only one business operating in violation of his Safe Shop rules, which was rectified without citation or enforcement.

He also urged residents to call the police department, the Lafayette Fire Department or the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office to report businesses operating questionably or in violation of the guidelines.

Across Acadiana, 1,292 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed as of Monday, an increase of 2.6% over Sunday.

Across the state, 595 new cases were identified Monday, along with 32 additional deaths.

Iberia Parish saw the largest number of new patients added in Acadiana Monday, increasing by 10 to reach 194 cases of the virus over all.

St. Mary Parish followed with seven new cases to reach 156, for an increase of 5% over Sunday.

Vermilion Parish saw the largest percent increase in cases Monday, adding three case to reach 33 total infections for an increase of 10%.

Across the region, Monday’s 33 new COVID-19 infections reflect an increase of 2.6% over Sunday’s caseload, while Louisiana as a whole saw a caseload increase of 2.5% Monday, putting the area on par with the state average.